Camping device



Dec. 12, 1944. W wElgz T 2,365,030

CAMPING DEVICE Filed July 25, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 12, "1944.

W. M. WEISZ ET AL CAMPING DEVICE Filed July 25, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 12, 1944 CAMPING mcvrcn Wilbur M. Weisz and Edwin H. Royse,

, Dallas, Tex.

Application July 23, 1942, Serial No. 451,990

Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in camping devices.

One object of the invention isto provide an improved device which is arranged to form a cot 0r hammock for sleeping purposes and'which is readily collapsible whereby, when not in use, it may be folded into a comparatively small compact unit so as to be easily portable.

An important object of the invention isto provide an improved device which is adapted for use verse supports therebeneath and a comfortable bed is provided.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved camping device, wherein the end members each comprise a tripod which is readily collapsible, said tripods being arranged to be enclosed by end flaps and the entire structure being adapted to be covered by a removable cover, whereby a small tent is formed; the removable icover also acting as an outside casing or enclosure for the various parts of the device when said parts are collapsed or disassembled.

A further object of the invention is to provide a, camping device, of the character, wherein the various connections between the parts are made by dowels or similar removable means and also wherein the end supports or members are capable of an adjustment to compensate for stretch of the hammock or body support, whereby said hammock may be properly positioned at all times.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device, of the character, having the hammock or bodysupport formed with a depending skirt therearound, which skirt is of suflicient length to reach the ground'so that a dead air space may be had beneath the hammock to insulate the interior of the device against cold.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure l is an isometric view of the end supports of the device, the canvas portions of said device being omitted, V

Figure -2is a side elevation ofthe device, constructed in accordance with the invention and having the outer cover removed therefrom,

Figure 3 is a reduced side elevation of the complete device, with the outside cover in position thereon,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 44 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a partial transverse vertical sectional view, taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 4,

Figure 7 is a partial, transverse vertical sectional view, taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 4,

Figure 8 is a transverse, sectional view illustrating the joint betweenthe-base members and taken on the line 88' of Figure 1,

Figure 9 is an isometric view of the hammock or body supportof the device, which support is constructed of canvas or other similar material,

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line IDI0 of Figure 9,

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line II--II of Figure 9,

Figurel2 is a partial isometric view showing ,one end of the outside cover, of the device,

Figure 13 is an enlarged sectional view of the pivoted joint between the three rods of one of the end supports, said rods being illustrated in their spread position, and

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13, with the rods in a folded or collapsed position.

In the drawings, the letter A designates an end support which consists of a trio of rods I9, I I and I2. The rods have their upper ends connected to each other by means ofa flexible connecting hinge member I3 (Figures 13 and 14) The member I3 may be a leather thong and extends through openings. [4 which are formed in the rods, the endsoi the member I3 being provided with heads I5 whichare preferably constructed of metal and which prevent said member from pulling through the openings l4. Manifestly, the flexiblemember I3 permits a pivoting and hing.-

ing of the variousrods I0, I I and I2 with respect .to each other and said rods may be spread outwardly, as shown in Figure. l or may be collapsed inwardly toward each other so as to lie in parallel relation, as shown in Figure 14. Although a flexible connection such as I3 has been found suitable, any desired flexible joint may be employed. The rods I0, I I and I2 are adapted to be spread to form a tripod, with the hinge joint at the apex thereof. The lower ends of the three rods are mounted upon base elements I6. and I1 which elements are shown in the form of wooden bars. The bar I! is disposed at a right angle to the bar I6 and is connected to the central portion of the former by a tongue I8 which engages within a groove I9 formed in the bar I6. The rod ID has its lower end formed with an inclined dowel pin which is engageable within an inclined recess 2| in the upper surface of the bar I! (Figure 7).

The rods II and I2 are provided with similar" dowel pins 22 on their lower ends which fit within recesses 23 provided at the outer ends of the bar I6. It is manifest that the rods may be easily disconnected from the bars I6 and I1 and said .suitably bracediand reinforced.

' The hammock C is preferably provided with a depending skirt 33 which has its upper end sewed or otherwise secured to the edge portions of said rods folded in parallel relation sot as.to:-occ.upy'

a minimum amount of space. Also, the bars I6 and I! may be disconnected from eachother and" the length of these bars is vsubstantiallythe same as the length ofithe rodslfl, II and. I2 whereby all of the parts may be placed inadjacent par- .allel relation so as to. bereadilyportable.

A second end support B which is constructed in exactly the same manner as the support A is provided and is spaced from the first support, as is clearly shown in Figure l,- A hammock C preferably of canvas or other similar material is adapted to be suspended between and .within the end supports A .and B. As is clearly shown in Figure 9,-the hammock hasits ends tapered or formed of a general triangular shape as indicatedat 24, whereby these ends will fit within the tripods formed by the rods of -.the end sup-;;

ports A=and B. A plurality of openings 25 are formed in the edge portions of the hammockand the .rods II, and I2 of the end supports Aand B are adapted to pass through :these :Dpenings.

Each openinghas a strap 26 which is formed in-.

tegral. with the hammock around itsouter edge andthisstrap engages the rods II and I2, being secured to said rods by rivets 21. or other fasvtening means.

The ends of the hammock are formed. with recessesZSa which receivethe rods II) of theend supports and tabs 26a. having snap fasteners 21a arranged to. removablysecure .the ends of .the hammock to the rods II]. .Thus, the.hammock is permanently affixed to the rods II and I2 and.

removably secured to the rods I 0 of the end supports. and this arrangement facilitates collapse and folding of the unit, as will be explained.

.As is clearly shown in Figure 2, the hammock C is secured to the rods at a point above the lower ends thereof, whereby the hammock is suspended in spaced'relation to. thetground. When thehammock is secured to the supports Aand Band .the'weight of a person is placed thereon, said hammock will tend to pull the rods I tion, the central portion of the hammock C may be reinforced by wooden rods 29 which extend between the rods II and I2" of, the units A and B, the rods 29 being inserted within sleeves. 30

and I2.

'hammock. The skirt is of a sufficient length to permit its lower end to lie upon the ground,

:that is, the skirt is longer than the space between the hammock and the ground level. The

.skirt 'functionsto create a dead air space below or beneath the hammock and in extremely cold climates, this dead air space provides an insulation to maintain the interior of the. structure above the hammock substantially warm. Of course, when thedevice isused in warmer climates, theskirt 33 may beentirely eliminated.

For closing .the'spacebetween the rods III, II

and. I2 of the end supports so'as toenclose the end portions of the hammock and to weatherproof the device, triangular-flaps 34 and 35 are provided. These flaps may be formed as separate pieces but it is preferable that they be attached .to,.and.form a part of, the hammock C. The

flaps 34 are of a size to cover the space between the rods Ill and I I, while the flaps 35 are adapted to cover the opposite space between the rods Ill The flaps 34 are formed with tabs 36 having suitable fasteners 3! and as is clearly shown inFigure 2, said flaps are swung upwardly and the tabsv are fastened around the rods III and II. After .each flap 34 is in position, the oppositev flap 35 is swung upwardly to cover the spacebetween-the rods III and Hand tabs 36a which are formed on one vertical. edge of said flaps 35 are .securedv around therod I2, being fastened bythe fasteners 37a. :The opposite vertical edge of eachzflap 35 isformed with an elongate strip-38 which is arranged to overlap the flap 34 alongz-the rod II, said strip being :secured to said fiap 34' by suitable snap fasteners.:.39.

vObviously, when the flaps 34 and 35 are in'position secured to the rods, the spacesbetweensaid rods are covered so that the head andzfoot portions of the hammock are protected against the weather.

secured to the strip 38 by a suitable fastener 42.

The sides of the cover 40 "overhang the sides of the structure and also overlap-the flaps 34. and 35. For fastening the lower portions of the sides of the cover 40 in place; suitable draw strings 43 are secured to the cover at each end thereof and each drawstring 43 is threaded through a sleeve 44 formed in the lower edge of each side of the cover (Figure 12), the inner ends of, said. draw strings extending into the interior of the structure. After, the cover 40 is in place, the occupant may enter the structure and then fasten theends of the draw strings 43 to the rods I I and I2 ofthe end support, such fastening beingpossible from the interior. Obviously, when the cover 40 is in place, a weatherproof tent is had.

The entire structure is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture. The two tripods may be readily set up and the hammock is suspended therefrom. Since there are no cross or transverse braces beneath the hammock, a much more comfortable bed is provided because obviously, the flexible material of which the hammock is made will readily conform to the body of the occupant The flaps 34 and 35 may be secured to the sides of the rods of the end supports or in warmer climates, these flaps may be omitted so as to provide sufiicient ventilation. The skirt 33 which creates a dead air space beneath the hammock may or may not be employed, as desired. Also, the outside cover Ml may be used in colder climates and to protect the occupant from rain or other adverse weather. If desired, the cover 40, as well as the flaps 34 and 35, may be omitted and a mosquito netting substituted therefor, whereby the device is adaptable for use in tropical climates.

The device may be readily disassembled by first removing the outer cover 40 and releasing the flaps 34 and 35 from the rods. Disassembly may continue by disconnecting the reinforcing rods 29 from the rods l l and 12, then disconnecting the rods [0, H and [2 from the base bars l6 and I1, and finally separating the bars I6 and H from each other. The ends of the hammock are then disengaged from the rods ID of the end supports by unfastening the fasteners 21a. The rods of each end support are then swung inwardly toward each other to acollapsed position, such collapse being possible because of the triangular portions 24 of the hammock merely fold to permit the inward movement of the bars II and I2. The rods l0, H and I2, as well as the base bars l6 and IT are then placed longitudinally on the central portion of the hammock and this positioning of the rods folds th triangular ends 24 of the hammock over the central portion thereof. The entire collapsed unit may then be rolled into the cover 40 which provides an outer casing or enclosure for the various disassembled parts. The roll so formed may be tied together by the draw .strings 43 of the outside cover 40 and thus, the

entire unit takes up a minimum amount of space and is readily portable.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A camping device including, a pair of spaced end supports, each support comprising a trio of rods having their upper ends hinged together,

. whereby said rods may be spread to form a'tripod, base members to which the lower ends of said rods are removably fastened, a hammock extending between the tripods and having its ends shaped to fit within the rods forming said tripods, and means for securing the peripheral portions of the hammockto the rods at a point spaced above the lower end of the rods, whereby the hammock is suspended from the end supports.

2. A camping device as set forth in claim 1, together with longitudinally extending reinforcing rods mounted in the marginal edge portions of the hammock, and means for removably fastening the ends of said rods to the end supports.

3. A camping device as set forth in claim 1, with flaps secured to the hammock and foldable upwardly over the rods of the end supports to cover said supports and to enclose the end portions of the hammock.

4. A camping device asset forth in claim 1, with a peripheral skirt secured to the hammock and depending downwardly therefrom to completely enclose the space beneath the hammock.

5. A camping device including, a pair of spaced end supports, each support including a plurality of rods having their upper ends hinged together, whereby the lower ends of the rods may be spread apart to form the support, means connecting and spacing the supports from each other, and a hammock extending between the supports and having its marginal edge portions secured to the means and said rods adjacent and spaced above the lower ends of the rods, whereby the hammock is rigidly suspended from the end supports and swinging of the same is prevented. 6. A camping device as set forth in claim 5 wherein the connecting and spacing means consist of longitudinally extending reinforcing members mounted in the marginal edge portions of the hammock, the ends of the members being removably fastened to the end supports.

'7. A camping device as set forth in claim 5, together with flaps connected to the hammock and foldable upwardly over the rods of the end supports to cover said supports and to enclose the end portions of said hammock.

8. A camping device as set forth in claim 5, together with a peripheral skirt connected to the hammock and depending. downwardly therefrom to the ground so as to completely'enclose the space beneath said hammock and provide a dead-air space therebelow.

9. A camping device including, a pair of end supports, each support comprising a pair of base members disposed at a right angle to each'other with the end of one member abutting the central portion of the other, means for removably securing the base members together, a trio of rods having their upper ends hinged together with their lower ends removably secured to the base members, means for connecting and spacing said end supports from each other, a hammock extending between the end supports, and means for removably securing the peripheral edge portions of the hammock to the connecting and spacing means and the rods adjacent and spaced above the lower ends thereof, whereby said hammock is rigidly suspended from said supports and side-sway of the same is prevented.

10. A camping device as set forth in claim 5, together with end flaps formed on the hammock adapted to cover the end supports to enclose the end portions of said hammock, an outer cover overlying the hammock, and means for removably fastening the cover in position.

WILBUR M. WEISZ. EDWIN H. ROYSE. 

